Andy Dalton was released by the Bengals earlier this week after the team selected Joe Burrow first overall, and Cincinnati residents wanted to show their appreciation.
In an interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer, Dalton's wife J.J. said The Dalton Foundation received about 900 donations totaling more than $25,000 in the day since the quarterback's release. J.J. said many of the donations were either $14 to show respect to Dalton's number, or represented the number 14 in some way.
Dalton was drafted by the Bengals in 2011 and started the foundation that same year with his wife.
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"It just touches our heart and we are forever grateful for everyone for standing by us and for supporting our mission and coming alongside because Cincinnati will always have a special place in our hearts," she told the Enquirer.
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J.J. Dalton said the money donated at this time will be given to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
"The mission of the Andy & JJ Dalton Foundation is to show God’s love and grace while providing support, resources and experiences to seriously ill and physically challenged children and their families," the foundation's website says.
Andy Dalton also reflected on his time in Cincinnati in an interview with the Bengals' official website.
"I received a lot of support through my career. I felt it ever since yesterday when they announced it. I'm not going to say I was underappreciated, or I think I deserve more than I'm getting. There's been a lot of good stuff that has happened in the last 10 years," Dalton said. "I think one thing everybody realized. I've given everything to the organization, the city, my family has given so much to the city. We didn't take our position and our platform lightly. To see what has happened since yesterday, it's bigger than football. We understood that, we know that and we're feeling the love and that's bigger than football."
Dalton's foundation also received attention in 2018 when Bills fans began donating after the Bengals helped Buffalo reach the NFL playoffs. At the time, Dalton reportedly received over $345,000 from Bills fans.
